Jake Benton named CoSIDA Academic All-District

Joplin, Mo. -- Missouri Southern senior distance runner Jake Bentonhas been named to the Capital One Academic All-District team by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

To be considered for this honor, a student-athlete must maintain a cumulative 3.30 GPA, as well as participate in at least 50 percent of his team's events. The Lions are in a district with schools from the MIAA, the Great American Conference and the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.

A four-year distance runner for the Lions, Benton (Wentzville, Mo.) helped continue the tradition of dominance among distance runners for the MSSU program. A cross country All-MIAA and All-Region selection the past two years, Benton helped the Lions to two appearances in the NCAA XC Championships, finishing 8th in 2012 and 19th this year. During his tenure, the team has finished no lower than third at the MIAA XC meet.

He was one of six MIAA track and field athletes to be named to the All-District team. Benton's name will now go on the ballot for Academic All-America. He graduated from Missouri Southern with a 4.00 GPA in biology/pre-med.